Author tackles issues of Muslim teenage angst

LONDON  - Most novels aimed at teenage girls deal with first kisses, friendship and problems with parents.

But one of the first novels about a Muslim girl growing up in a Western society will be published this month.

Does My Head Look Big in This? is the story of Amal, a 16-year-old Australian Muslim girl who one day decides out of the blue that she wants to wear the hijab at school. Her decision shocks her parents and friends but gives her a sense of inner calm and conviction.

The author, Randa Abdel-Fattah, 26, a lawyer from Sydney, based the novel on her experiences as a teenager growing up in Australia, where she wore the hijab between the ages of 14 and 17.

"I wanted to debunk the myths about Muslims, and particularly about Muslim women," she said. "Muslim women and girls are often looked at as aliens. They are greatly misunderstood.

"I wanted to write a book that allowed readers to enter the world of the average Muslim teenage girl and see past the headlines and stereotypes."

Her book portrays the hostility that Amal faces as well as the assumption she is being forced to cover her head.

Abdel-Fattah, who grew up in Melbourne of Palestinian and Egyptian parentage, said: "I experienced a lot of racism and prejudice when I used to wear the hijab, and once my head scarf was pulled from the back of my head. The most frequent taunt would be 'go back where you came from'.

"There was often an assumption that I could not be Australian because I was wearing the hijab. There was an assumption that I must be Middle Eastern or a terrorist."

However, the book, Abdel-Fattah's first novel, also covers the usual teenage territory of rebellion, eating disorders, spots, smoking and alcohol.

"Muslim teenagers have said to me that it is the only book they have found that tells the story of normal teenage life as well as being about a Muslim," she said.

"Every time you read a book about Muslims it's always either about the Saudi royal family, the Taleban or an honour killing. This is about the average Muslim experience and being a normal teenager."

Abdel-Fattah said she no longer wore the hijab because she saw how difficult it was for her hijab-wearing friends to get jobs as lawyers.

- INDEPENDENT